Liberal Democrats win 16 MEPs, including two in the East of England

The Liberal Democrats have secured the best ever European Election result in the party's history, expecting to return 16 MEPs and take second place in vote share.

Having run an unambiguous campaign to stop Brexit the party has made huge gains across the country, which follow the party's best ever gains in English local election results at the start of May.

Responding to the result Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable said:

"Our clear, honest, unambiguous message has won us our best ever European election result, and pushed Corbyn's Labour into third place.

"We have shown ourselves to be the strongest Remain force in British politics.

"We will always stand up for the people who have put their faith in us, taking this mandate forward to campaign harder than ever to stop Brexit.

"There is a clear lesson for Labour in tonight's results: get off the fence. In trying to please everybody they have pleased nobody.

"With a Tory leadership contest increasing the risk of a "No Deal" Brexit, Britain can no longer tolerate an Opposition which ducks and dives on the biggest issue of the day.

"If you want to see an outward looking Britain, standing tall in the world with our European partners, and offering opportunity to everyone at home, there is no better moment to shape the future of our party and our politics, by joining the Liberal Democrats."

The Liberal Democrats

This is the best ever result in the European Elections for the Liberal Democrats and by securing second place in the national vote, it is the first time that the Liberal Democrats have beaten both the Conservative and Labour Parties in a UK-wide election. The Liberal Party last did this 101 years ago.

We are on course to triple our 2014 vote share, and have secured our highest vote share since 2010 and are returning our largest ever group of MEPs.

It is the first time we have topped the poll in London, which sends a clear message ahead of next year's mayoral elections that we will be a serious player.

Conservatives

This is the worst ever result for the Conservatives in a UK-wide election. Their previous worst performance in the European Elections was to return 26 MEPs. They have fallen far, far short.

Labour

Labour are on course for their worst ever performance in a UK-wide election. They have never returned fewer than 13 seats and are on course to fall short of that.

The Liberal Democrats Region by Region

Eastern

• We have returned 2 MEPs, and 23% of the vote finishing in 2nd place.
• In 2014 we secured 6.9% of the vote, and previously our best result was 1 MEP and 14%.

East Midlands

• We have returned 1 MEP, and 17% of the vote - finishing in 2nd place.
• In 2014 we secured 5.4% and our best result was 12.8%.

London

• We have returned 3 MEPs, and 27% of the vote topping the polls in London.
• We secured 6.7% in 2014 and our best previous result was 15.3% of the vote.
• Winning in London is an shockwave to the old two parties, ahead of next year's Mayoral election. We are clearly serious players.

North East

• We secured 17% of the vote - a huge increase and narrowly missed out on a seat in the region.
• We secured 5.9% in 2014

North West

• We have returned 2 MEPs, on 17% of the vote
• We secured 6% of the vote in 2014 and our previous best result was 15.8%

South East

• We have returned 3 MEPs on 26% of the vote finishing in second place.
• We secured 8% in 2014 and our previous best result was 15.3%

South West

• We have returned 2 MEPs, with 23% of the vote and finished in 2nd place.
• We secured 10.7% in 2014 and our previous best result was 18.3%

West Midlands

• We have returned 1 MEP with 16% of the vote
• We secured 5.6% in 2014 and our previous best result was 13.7%

Yorkshire & the Humber

• We have returned 1 MEP with 16% of the vote .
• We secured 6.3% vote in 2014 and our previous best result was 15.5%

Scotland

• We are waiting for the declaration of results in Scotland
• We are on course to double our vote share from the 7.1 % we got in 2014, and return one MEP.

Wales

• We secured 13% of the vote - our best ever result and narrowly missed out on a seat.

We secured 3.9% of the vote in 2014 and our best previous performance was 10.7%